Chapter 10 - Nobody moved.Claire's finger trembled against the trigger.
Everett stared at her.
“You betrayed us.”
Claire cried.
“I thought I had no choice.”
Lily looked at her.
“You always had a choice.”
Claire lowered the gun slightly.
“My son is thirteen.”
Everett whispered:
“What is his name?”
“Evan.”
Lily stepped forward.
“I can find him.”
Claire laughed bitterly.
“No one can.”
“I'm not no one.”
A voice came through the speaker system.
Richard.
“Touching.”
The lights came on.
Richard stood on the balcony above them.
Everett stared.
The man was older.
Gray hair.
Silver watch.
Alive.
“Hello, nephew.”
Everett's jaw tightened.
“You destroyed our family.”
Richard smiled.
“No.”
He pointed at Lily.
“She did.”
Lily stared upward.
“You killed people.”
“I protected the company.”
“You sold human beings.”
“I made difficult decisions.”
Everett couldn't believe what he was hearing.
“Where is Junie?”
Richard smiled.
“Safe.”
“Bring her out.”
“Give me the card.”
Everett lifted the microSD.
Richard nodded.
“Excellent.”
Lily grabbed Everett's arm.
“Don't.”
Everett looked at her.
Richard leaned over the railing.
“You want your granddaughter?”
“Yes.”
“Give me the card.”
Everett stepped forward.
“But I want proof she's alive.”
Richard smiled.
A video appeared on the screen.
Junie sat in a room.
She looked scared.
But unharmed.
“Mommy?”
Lily stepped closer.
“Junie!”
The child looked up.
“Mommy?”
Lily broke down.
Richard smiled.
“Now.”
Everett handed the card to one of Richard's men.
The man checked it.
Richard nodded.
“Excellent.”
He pressed a button.
A steel door opened.
Junie walked out.
Everett rushed toward her.
He pulled her into his arms.
Junie hugged him.
“Mister Bear.”
“I'm here.”
She whispered:
“I knew you'd come.”
Everett closed his eyes.
Then Junie said:
“Mommy is behind you.”
Everett turned.
Lily was staring at the screen.
Her face had gone white.
Richard wasn't looking at Junie.
He was looking at Lily.
Then he smiled.
“Now we can finish what we started.”
The doors locked.
Gas began pouring into the room.
Everett shouted:
“EVERYBODY DOWN!”
People collapsed.
Lily grabbed Claire.
Everett smashed a window.
They escaped through the smoke.
But Richard disappeared.
So did the microSD.
As Everett stepped outside with Junie, he saw a black car leaving the estate.
Richard sat inside.
He held the card between two fingers.
And in the passenger seat sat Victor Hale.
Alive.
Victor looked back through the rear window.
Everett stared.
May you like
Then Victor mouthed two words.
NOT OVER.
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